Electron discharge device



Jan. 1s, 193s. l P; LMC@ 2,105,483

LECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1956 M @gv/111111.15

Patented Jan. 18, 1938 Ts` smrss PATENT OFFICE ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Joseph P. Laico, Brooklyn,

N. Y., assignor to Application October 7, 1936, Serial No. 104,389

6 Claims.

I'his invention relates to electron discharge devices and more particularly to such devices including a plurality of electrode units mounted within a single enclosing vessel and adapted to ,5 V translate ultra high frequency impulses.

i One object of this invention is to expedite the fabrication of electron discharge devices embodying relatively complex electrode structures.

Another object of this invention is to facilitate 10i efficient electrical association of electrodes of an electron discharge device with the leading-in conduct-ors therefor.

Still another object of this invention is to facilitate complete removal of occluded gases from 1 5 electrodes in an electron discharge device.

In one illustrative embodiment of this invention, an electron discharge device, which may be of the general construction disclosed in my Patent 2,062,319 granted December 1, 1936, comprises two electrode units each including a cathode, a

control electrode, an anode, and shield and suppressor grids disposed between the control electrode and the anode. The anodes may be supported by individual leading-in conductors sealed in one end of the enclosing vessel and the remaining electrodes may be supported from the opposite end of the vessel by leading-in conductors for the cathodes, control electrodes, and suppressor grids. A leading-in conductor for the l screen or shield grids preferably is sealed in the first-mentioned end of the vessel.

In the manufacture of the device, the vessel may be composed of two similar halves of vitreous material, one carrying the anodes and the other supporting the remaining electrodes. The two halves are placed together with the anodes in proper relation to the other electrodes, and are sealed to one another, as by fusing, at their contacting edges.

It is desirable in order to facilitate assembly and to insure the proper space relation of the anodes to the other electrodes associated therewith, that all the leading-in conductors be sealed into the vessel before joining of the two halves thereof. The problem then is presented of establishing electrical connection between the screen or shield grids, which are mounted on one-half of the enclosing vessel, and the leading-in conductor for these grids, which is sealed in the other half of the vessel.

' In accordance with one feature of this invention, the screen or shield grid structure is provided'with a pair of elongated, metallic, resilient strip members disposed parallel to and in contact with eachother. An elongated plate member or (Cl. Z50-27.5)

blade is rigidly aixed to the leading-in conductor for the screen grids and extends parallel to the resilient strip members. When the two portions or" the enclosing vessel are joined, the plate member or blade is inserted between the resilient members and is securely grasped thereby. Because of the relatively large contact areas between the blade and the resilient members, a positive, low resistance and ecient electrical connection between the screen grids and the lead- 10 ing-in conductor therefor is attained. Furthermore, this construction provides a slidable linkage between opposite ends of the enclosing vessel so that the anodes may be aligned accurately with the other electrodes of the device and the 15 screen grid assembly may expand and contract longitudinally during operation and outgassing treatment of the device.

in accordance with another feature of this invention the anodes are so constructed as to provide a closed electrically conductive surface whereby eddy currents may be produced eiciently therein and complete removal of occluded gases therefrom is enabled.

The invention and the features thereof will be 25 understood more clearly and fully from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view in perspective of an electron discharge device illustrative of one 30 embodiment of this invention, a portion of the enclosing vessel and of the suppressor and shield grid assemblies being broken away to show the structure more clearly;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view mainly in cross- 35 section of the electrodes and the supports therefor in the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section along line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the conguration and relative disposition of the electrodes in the pentode units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of the leading-in structure for the screen grids in the device illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section illustrating the configuration of the electrodes and the space 45 relation thereof in a modification of the embodiment of this invention shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing the electron discharge device shown in Fig. l comprises an enclosing vessel, which may be composed of two 50 similar dish-shaped halves lll-A and IU-B of vitreous material, such for example as a molded boro-silicate glass commercially known as Nonex, the two halves being sealed together at their rims. The enclosing vessel houses a pair of 55 pentode units, each of which includes a cathode, a control electrode or grid encompassing the cathode, an anode and a screen and a suppressor electrode disposed between the control grid and the anode, the anodes and the grid electrodes preferably presenting substantially coaxial surfaces to the cathode.

The cathode of each pentode unit may be a linear filament or small diameter helix ll, for example of thoriated tungsten, which is supported at one end by a rigid cross wire or rod I2 carried by a metallic standard or upright I3 sealed in the lower end wall i4 or the enclosing vessel. Each of the cathodes is secured at its other end to a resilient J -shaped wire I5 mounted upon a rigid wire or stub l5 sealed into and extending through the end wall l.

Each cathode Il has associated with it a control electrode which comprises an elongated metallic plate member of relatively large area having spaced parallel arms il and a small diameter cylindrical portion IS into which a support rod Z extends. The supportV rods 2i. preferably are welded to the cylindrical portions I8, and are sealed in and extend through the lower-end wall lil of the enclosing vessel. Each control-electrode includes also a plurality of U-shaped wires of g ing members such as wires 22.

small gauge each of which is afxed, as by welding, at its ends to the arms ll together with brac- The grid portion composed of the wires 2| of each'of the control electrodes is encompassed in turn by a screen or shield electrode and a suppressor electrode having wire portions 23 and 25 respectively of the same configuration as the rid wires 2i and uniformly spaced therefrom.

The U-shaped wires 23 forming the grid portion of the screen or shield electrode extend through diametrically oppositeY longitudinally extending slots or apertures in a metallic cylinder 24 and are affixed thereto, as by welding, together with bracing members such vas wires 25. Similarly, the wires 2id-constituting the grid portion of the suppressor electrodes extend through diametrically opposite apertures in a metallic cylinder` 21 and are affixed thereto, as by welding, together with bracing'members such as wires 23. The two cylinders 2li and El are coaxially mounted and form a-large surface condenser between the screen and suppressor electrodes. They `may be made in one piece or of two substantially semi-cylindrical pieces. f

' The inner cylindrical member 24 carrying the shield grid wires 23 is provided with end closure discs 2S and 3S upon which insulating members or sleeves 3l and 32, respectively, are seated, these insulating members encompassing the standard or support rod i3. The lower insulating member 3l is held in position upon the closure disc 29 by a metallic band or collar 33 suitably secured to the disc 23 and abutting an annular flange 34 upon the insulating sleeve 3l. Similarly, the outer cylinder 21 is provided with end closure discs 35 and 35, the disc 35 abutting the outer end of the insulating member 32. The lower disc 35 is rigidly held upon the standard or upright i3v by a plurality vof metallic `strips 31 which are affixed, as by welding, to the disc 136 and the upright. i3 and abut the lowerend of the lower insulating sleeve 3 l. Preferably, the closure disc 36 is provided with an outwardly extending annular Aiiange 38v to increase the shielding between4 theleading-in conductors 20 for the control electrodes, and the anodes. Y

Mounted upon the vouter metallic cylinder 21 are U-shaped metallic bands 39 which are of the same conguration as the wires 26 of the suppressor grids and overlie the ends of the shield grids 23. The standard or upright i3 may be secured at its upper end to the cross wire l2 so that the suppressor grids are connected electrically to the cathodes il.

Associated with eac'h of the cathode and grid units above described is an anode which comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical portion 40 coaxial with the filament l i, an integral crescentshaped portion 4i and a flange'42 having a cylindrical channel d3 therein. Each of the channels 43 receives a metallic support or wire 64 each of which in turn is secured to a rigid metallic stub 45 sealed in and extending through the upper wall et of the enclosing vessel. The supports or wires l may be welded at the lower end thereof to the iianges 42. This construction ofthe anodes provides a closed metallic loop composed of the portions i0 and Il! whereby intense eddy current may be produced emciently in the anode structure by high frequency induction, and substantially complete removal of occluded gases from the anodes thereby achieved. Furthermore, the crescent shaped portion is! provides alarge radiating surface to dissipate heat from the anodes.

In the fabrication of the device, the electrode structure including the cathodes ll, the control electrodes il, 2i and the shield and suppressor electrodes, Vmay be supported on the lower half lG-B of the enclosing vessel through the central standard or support i3 and the leading-in conductors lrand 2Q for the cathodes and the control electrodes respectively. The anodes, as willY be apparent, are supported from the other half lil-A of the enclosing vesselY through the metallic stubs 45 sealed in the end Vwall 43. When the two portions l-A and i-B of the enclosing vessel are joined, they may be shifted slightly relative to one another to position the anodes d, iii properly with respect to the corresponding cathodes and grids. The two halves ifi-A and l-B may then be sealed hermetically to one another, as by fusion of the vitreous material, at their contacting edges.

As illustrated in Fig. i, a pair'of studs 4l' are aiixed, as by'welding, to the upper closure disc 3l! fortheinner metallic cylinder 2li.' Each of these ystuds 13": is encompassed by an insulating sleeve 423 which rests upon the disc 3S! and projects through a slightly oversize aperture in the upper closure disc 35 for the outer cylinder 2l. The two cylinders 2li and 2l may be rotated slightly and heldin proper position relative to one another through Vthe agency of flexible metallic members 59 secured at one end to the disc 35 and at the other end frictionallyengaging the insulating sleeves t3. The metallic studs l? are electrically connected by a pair of resilient or flexible, elongated metallic strips each of which, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, comprises end portions 49 secured, as bywelding, to the studs 4l, and an intermediate portion 55 provided with a semicylindrical portion 5i and also with outwardly bent lips 52. The intermediate portions 50 extend parallel to each other and'preferably originally have the greater portions thereof in contact. Sealed in the upper end wall 46 of the enclosing vessel is a metallic stub 53 slotted at its inner end and carrying an elongated platel member or blade 54. The stub 53 is of such length thatgwhen the two halves lil-A and Ill-B of the enclosing vessel are joined, the plate member orl blade 54V is inserted between the inter- 7''5 mediate portions 50 of the resilient metallic members mounted on the studs 41 and is securely grasped thereby, the lips 52 serving to guide the plate member or blade 54 into position between the intermediate portions 50.

As will be apparent from Fig. 4, large areas of the plate member or blade 54 and of the intermediate portions 50 of the resilient metallic members are in engagement, so that a positive and ecient electrical connection of low resistance obtains between the leading-in conductor 53 and the studs 41. Furthermore, inasmuch as the plate member or blade 54 is frictionally held by the resilient metallic members in the assembly of the device, the two portions l-A and IU-B of the enclosing vessel may be shifted slightly relative to one another to enable accurate alignment of the anodes 40, 4l with the electrodes associated therewith. Also the frictional engagement between the plate member or blade 54 and the resilient metallic members provides an expansion link so that the screen and suppressor electrode assemblies may expand and contract freely longitudinally during the outgassing treatment and the operation of the device.v In a modication of the pentode units, shown in Fig. 5, the cathode may be an elongated at vribbon filament 55 having its broader sides parallel to the arms of the U-shaped control grid wires 2l. The screen and suppressor electrodes may be of the same construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The anodes may be blocks of carbon having a central portion 56 provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 51 coaxial with the grids 2l, 23 and 25 and diverging wings or flanges 58. The anodes may be supported by rods 59 sealed in the upper end Wall 46 of the enclosing Vessel and each having a. laterally extending portion 60 itted in a groove 6l in the central portion 56, and an extending arm 62 tted in a longitudinally extending bore in the central portion 56.

Although specic embodiments of this invention nave ben shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that various modications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as deiined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electron discharge device, an enclosing vessel, an electrode assembly Within said vessel, a leading-in conductor extending from one wall of said vessel, a pair of iiexible metallic members afxed to said assembly, and a metallic contact member cfarried by said conductor and grasped by said exible members.

2. In an electron discharge device, an enclosing vessel, an electrode assembly Within said vessel, means supporting said assembly from one wall of said vessel, a leading-in conductor extending from the opposite Wall of said vessel, and means electrically connecting said conductor and said assembly comprising a pair of juxtaposed, elongated, exible metallic strips secured to said assembly and an elongated blade carried by said conductor, and extending parallel to and frictionally engaged by said metallic strips.

3. In an electron discharge device, an enclosing vessel, an electrode assembly within said vessel including a cylindrical member and electrode elements mounted thereon, means supporting said assembly from one wall of said vessel, a leadingin conductor sealed in the opposite Wall of said vessel, a pair of studs extending from said cylindrical member toward said opposite wall, a metallic connector secured at its ends to said studs and having juxtaposed iiexible intermediate portions, and a metallic blade carried by said conductor and frictionally fitted between said exible portions.

4. In an electron discharge device, an enclosing vessel, an electrode assembly supported from one end of said vessel, an electrode disposed in cooperative relation to said assembly and supported from the opposite end of said vessel, and a leading-in connection for said assembly comprising a conductor sealed in said opposite end, rigid members afxed to said assembly and extending toward said opposite end, a pair of elongated metallic strips having their ends secured to said rigid member and having juxtaposed, parallel iiexible intermediate portions, guiding lips on said intermediate portions, and an elongated large surface metallic blade secured to said conductor, insertable through said guiding lips and grasped by said intermediate portions.

5. In an electron discharge device, an enclosing vessel having two joined parts, an electrode supported from one part of said vessel, a leadingin conductor for said electrode supported by the other part of said vessel, a second electrode supported by said other part, and means dening a laterally and longitudinally adjustable conductive linkage between said rst electrode and said conductor.

6. In an electron discharge device, an enclosing vessel including two dished-shaped portions joined at their rims, an electrode assembly supported from one of said portions and including a cylindrical member and a plurality of electrode elements mounted thereon, a leading-in conductor for said assembly extending from the base of the other of said portions, a plurality of electrodes mounted on said other portion and each disposed in cooperative relation with one of said electrode elements, and means electrically coupling said conductor to said assembly including a pair of metallic studs extending from said cylindrical member toward said base, a pair of iiexible metallic strips secured to said stubs and having elongated intermediate portions substantially parallel to said base, and an elongated blade member carried by said conductor and disposed substantially parallel to said base, said blade member being grasped by said intermediate portions and laterally and longitudinally slidable therebetween.

JOSEPH P. LAICO. 

